Lessons Learnt In 2015

This time last year, I was getting ready to spend my first Christmas and New Year living in London. Although it was an exciting time, it was also a little disappointing. I’d made the big move and yet, most of my friends were a two hour train ride away and I was in a job that I just wasn’t made to do. A lot has changed since then and I thought I’d share with all of you lovely people the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Magic happens when you leave your comfort zone – If I hadn’t pushed myself to go to my first blogging meet or to go for a promotion then I wouldn’t have met new friends, worked with such great brands, got that job or been the kinda person who’d volunteer to clean a lake.

Distance is only an issue if you make it – With most of my friends being “up North” and a train ride away, it was easy to get jealous of other people being able to arrange last minute plans with their friends. While I still wish I could pop for a lunch break coffee with my best friend, we make up for it by texting far too much and planning amazing adventures for when we do see each other.

“Shy girls get nothing” – A quote my dad always uses has really rang true this year. While London is a huge city, it’s also one of the most lonely, I mean it’s practically against the law to make eye contact on the bus never mind actually talking to a stranger. Okay maybe a slight exaggeration but still. Going out there, putting yourself in situations you wouldn’t normally is worth it, although a little daunting. If you’re stuck as to how to meet people, Thinking Bob holds socials like murder mysteries and room escapes!

If Justin Bieber can leave behind his “Baby Baby Oooo” legacy, so can you – Seriously, if he can go from arguably the worlds most hated popstar to one of the coolest artists of the moment, you can stop letting things from your past hold you back too. Also, I should really apologise for taking the mick out of my friend who pre ordered his first album..

It’s okay to be different – As my favourite tube ad campaign by Moo, “Be a sparkly flamingo in a crowd of pigeons”. It’s better to be known as “that girl with too many lipsticks”, “the guy that always orders Earl Grey” or “the one who wears shorts even when it’s snowing” than not be remembered at all. Your friends love you just the way you are, anyone who doesn’t isn’t worth your time.

Dolly Parton gave the 9 to 5 a bad rep – While I do have to get up and pour myself a cup of ambition before taking the hour long journey to the office, the 9 to 5 (or 6 in my case..) isn’t all bad. After going from a job where shifts ranged from starting at 6.30am to finishing at midnight, Dolly, don’t knock the routine!

Take the time to love your local area – Be a tourist in your own city, try that deli down the road, grab a coffee in somewhere that isn’t a chain. You never know what you’ll find.

It’s okay to dream big – In fact, you should dream bigger than big. You can aim for that dream job, you can ask that cute guy on the bus out and you can definitely do anything you set your mind to.

It’s always worth taking the time to tell people you love them – or even just giving your parents or grandparents a call for a catch up. You’ll never regret it, even if you learn more about Linda from bingo than you could ever wish to know.

If something seems to good to be true, it probably is – I mean, that MAC bronzer that you scored on eBay for less than a fiver is probably not legit, so rather than feeling silly learn to put these things down to experience.

Hard work always pays off – Be that putting in the extra reps at the gym, staying late at work or spending a little bit longer on your hobby. The old saying is true, the more you put in the more you get out.